red arrows disply team

[majic1400]

Hi all , i was driveing to an event on saturday first proper run out this year and decided to blow the cobwebs out a bit on a stretch of dual carraigeway, all of a sudden i became a member of the red arrows display team, either white or light blue smoke which seemed to be comeing from the lefthand exhuast, i slowed down and reached a layby, popped the bonnet no signs of trouble, revved the engine no smoke or missing, all this time the oil pressure was bang on and the water temp was good. I decided to carry on to the next fuel stop still no signs of trouble, i decided to carry on to my destination( well it was gurston down),had agreat day drove home again a round trip of about 70 miles again no more problems (oh apart from the pheasant). Can anybody shed any light on this i thought head gasket but would it still run ok and theres no sign of water in the oil not that i've seem to have lost any water any help advice will be greatfully received.

[chris1972]

White smoke = water and blue smoke = oil. You would really need to know what colour the smoke was to help diagnose the problem.

However, if the smoke was white, only temporary and you say you're not losing water it is unlikely to be a head gasket. I would begin to check other fluids, seals and joints that could possibly leak onto the exhaust and burn-off whilst you're driving; PAS, brake, clutch etc. If it was billowing out, then it is likely that it was a reasonable amount of fluid that has burnt off. The PAS banjo joint is on the pax side and just above the exhaust.

It would also be worth seeing if you're using more than average oil. It could be a valve stem, piston ring etc. A compression leak down test would help diagnose a problem here.

I'm no expert, just my two cents!

[Colin RedGriff]

Sounds like PAS the unbend under pump tends to leak and drips onto the exhaust, if this is the first good run of the year probably been weeping slightly and the run burnt it off.

[cjj799]

Don't forget the exhausts are joined together in the middle before seperating again, so it would be strange if it only came from one tailpipe.

I would go with the power steering fluid as well.